Centrifugal casting machine and method of casting



' Sept. 18, 1928.

- M. c. SMOTZER ET AL CENT'RIFUGAL CASTING MACHINE AND METHOD OF CASTINGFiled Se t. 15, 1926 N Am mw Patented Sept. 18,1928

UNITED STATES IIICHA'ELC. SMOTZEB, OF COSEOCTON, OHIO, AND JOHN A.BYEIBS, OF CHICAGO, ILLI- I 'PATE'N'AI OFFICE.

NOIS, ASSIGNORS TO. JAMES B. CLOW 8a SONS, O1 CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, ACORPORA- 110K OF ILLINOIS.

CENTBIFUGAL CASTING MACHINE AND METHOD OF CASTIN G.

Application filed September 18, 1926. Serial No. 134,971.

This invention relates to the art of casting ironor other pipecentrifugally, .although within its scope it is equally appli cable tocasting any cylindrical metal object. The invention more particularlypertains to a method of and means for equalizing the flow of moltenmetal from the spouts or pouring lips of a distributor of the charactergenerally used in centrifugal cast- 10 ing, as well as to a method ofand means for preventing the molten metal from cooling and solidifyingin portions of the distributor, or minimizing the eflects thereof.

In the ordinary process of centrifugally .16 casting cylindrical bodiessuch as iron pipe,

2, horizontal rotating. mold is utilized. This requires a longdistributor or ladle disposed axially of and within the mold, in orderthat the molten metal may be poured therefrom in all parts of the moldsubstantiall simultaneously, while the mold is rotate A distributor ofthe character referred to is illustrated in Patent 1,485,592, datedMarch 4, 1924. In usin distributors of the character to which reterencehas been made, molten metal to the requisite quantity'to make the objectto be cast is poured into one end of the distributor, which is leftprojectmgfrom the mold for the purpose. As this Wlll 'be clearlyapparent by reference to the patent 1 mentioned supra, no furtherdescription of it herein is deemed necessary. From the receiving end ofthe distributor the metal flows toward the opposite end until it has 7found its level throughout, or untilit has been poured into the mold, orhas solidified.

, As the tongue of the wave of metal advances along the floor or liningof the distributor,

40 those portions of the metal stream coming in contact with the coldfloor, wall or hning chill and tend to solidify. This chill occurs eventhough the distributor has been highly preheated, and as the heat isdrawn from the metal most closel adjacent the of the distributor, t etemperature of the molten metal is gradually reduced.

throughout. 0 Y

The cooled metal while still fluid, becomes ,more and more slu 'gish inits flow as the temperature is furt erreduced by progress I utor.

along the comparatively cold lining until the temperature is so muchreduced that it solidifies as a crust or skull on the refractory hningof the distributor. In other words, the contact of the molten metal withthe distributor progressively draws or reduces the temperature of themolten stream as it travels along the distributor to its most remotedestmation. The consequence of this is self evident. As the fiemperatureof the metal is reduced the stream becomes more slugglsh the further ittravels, and therefore does not flow evenly to all portions of the moldand a comparatively large quantity of themetal'which is needed to formthe object to be cast becomes solidified and hardened to the refractorylining of the distrib- Both these facts prevent the metal from 7 beingevenly distributed when the metal is dumped or poured from thedistributor into the mold, and a body of irregular and uneven thicknessof wall results:

One of the primary purposes or objects of the invention thereforeresides in the provision of the method of distributing the metal in andthroughout the distributor, so that no one portion of the molten metalwill travel the full length or a material part of the length of thedistributor to .heat the flooror llning thereof and become cooledthereby. Our process accordingly includes the retention of the initialmetal that hasbeen poured into the distributor and has flowed over .apredetermined small portion of the distributor lining, within suchportion,- and the utilization of molten metal' of high temperature forfilling and heating a succeeding portion of the distributor, and so on.In

other words, that metal which has been cooled by contact with thedistributor linin is prevented from flowing or being carri to moreremote portions of the distributor and thereby losing a vital portion ofits heat, which loss might seriously afiect the final-product. 4

Another important object of the invention is to provide a distributor ofthe character mentioned of such construction as will properly carry outthe process.

' Further objects, include various features-of distributor constructionand arrangement ferred type of distributor for carrying out" which willbe or should become apparent after reading the following descriptionandclaims in connection with the drawing, in

which Fig. 1 is a side elevational view of a pre- 3 at one end, and in ahollow portion 4 at the other. The end 4 is closed b a solid cap 5,preferably integral therewit and is provided with an opening 6' intowhich the metal is poured from a ladle or the like.

/ The hollow interior of the end 4 communicates at 7 with the tron hformed by the semi-cylindrical shell 2, w ch is lined from end to endwith suitable refractory material 8, such as fire brick-or the like.

Along one longitudinal edge of the shell .2 a cast iron strip or pouringlip member 9 having a series of projections 11 forming pouring spouts 12between them, is secured,

as by means of screws 13 which pass throu h the shell 2 into the baseportion of the strip 9. While we prefer to form the, pouring lips orspouts 12 in a single strip or casting 9 as shown, it will be obviousthat the s uts may be formed individually or in bloc of any suitablenumber "and attached to the shell 2 in the same or any suitable way.However the strip member or members 9 may be formed, we prefer that thebottom edges of each of them shall be bevelled oif as shown at 14 inFig. 4, in order that they may serve. to aid iiitretaining therefractory lining 8 within theshell 2'. Along the opposite edge or rimof the shell and longitudinally thereof, a lining retaining strip 15,preferably made of steel,is secured by screws 16 or other suitablesecuring means in a manner similar to the manner of securing the castiron strip or members 9 tothe opposite side. The bottom edge of thesteel strip 15 is also bevelled off as at 17 to aid in securing therefractory within the shell.

In order to carry out our primary objects, we insert baflles 18 atsuitable intervals transversely of the shell. These bafiles areconstructed of refractory material preferably I'GlllfOlfCQd' as at 19with nails or any other reinforcingrpciaans, and rise-from thebottomofthere ryliningStoaheight approximatel one-half the depth of themetal in the istributor, that is one-half the depth of the metalnecessarily received into the distributor for forming the article desired. While these bafiles may located at shorter intervals along thedistributor, we have found that for casting the average length of castiron pipe, two baflles each placed ap roximately one-third of' thedistance of t e distributor shell will serve the purpose very .well.

When the metal is poured into the distributor through the opening 6, itfirst fills the compartment or portion of the distribu tor between thefirst baffle 18 and the opening 7, so that approximately one-sixth ofthe total charge of molten metal is received therein before any metalflows into the succeeding compartment or portion of the dis-' tributor.Likewise, the succeeding compartment receives'approximately one-sixth,of the total charge before its succeeding compartment or portionreceives any of the molten metal, and so on until all three of thecompartments or portions of the distributor are filled. The operator oroperators, of course, continue pouring molten metal into the opening 6until the re uisite charge has been received in the distri utor.Retarding the flow of metal from one compartment or portion of thedistributor to another, or in other words accumulating a predeterminedportion of the charge at one place in the distributor before any metalflows to a second portion or compartment apparently equalizes thetemperature of .the metal in each compartment, so that that metal whichserves to heat the first compartment and becomes chilled thereby isreheated by the flowing metal following it and does not continue onalong the distributor and become solidified at some remote portionthereof. As a consequence, each compartment receives substantially thesame amount of molten metalat substanto pour the -metal throughthespouts 12,

substantiall the same amount of metal flows out t rough each of thespouts, re-. gardless of its position along the length of the shell,into the mold, and a uniform and re arly walled casting results.

e have illustrated and described a preferred form of our process forobtaining a uniform or'regular walled casting, and have illustrated oneform or embodiment of apparatus for carryin it out, but it will -beobvious that the met od may be varied con-' siderably and that otherarrangements and constructions of apparatus mayfbe utilized toaccomplish the same. We do not wish therefore to be limited by what hasbeen shown and described as a preferred embodi ment of our invention,since modifications fall within the spirit and purview of our invention,and scope of the appended claims. 1

We claim; 1. A method of casting cylindrical bodies centrifugallycomprising accumulating molten metal in one portion of a distributoradapted to be disposed substantially horizontall within a mold form,until a predetermined quantity has been accumulated therein, thereafteraccumulating molten metal in a successive portion of the distrtibutoruntil a predetermined quantit has been received therein, and thereafterowing the metal accumulated in the said portions from the distrtibutorinto the mold.

2. A distributor of the character described comprising, a trough adaptedto extend longitudinally of and within a mold for centrifu al casting,and a series of bafiles disposer? transversely of the length thereof.

3. A 'distributor'of the character described comprising, a trough havingan imperforate bottom adapted to extend longitudinally of a mold, andmeans for retarding spread of molten metal from' one. portion of thetrough to another until a predetermined guantity of metal has beenreceived in' the rst said portion.

4. A distributor of the character described comprising, a trough adaptedto be disposed horizontally over the bottom and longitudinally of amold, said trough being adapted to retain for a. desired period moltenmetal received therein, and means disposed at intervals along theinterior of the trough for restraining the, flow of molten metal fromone portion ,of the trough to another portion until a predeterminedquantity of metal has been received and retained in the first saidportion.

5. A distributor of the character described comprising, asemi-cylindricattrough adapted to extend longitudinally of a mold, andtransverse barriers against metal flow from one portion to anotherofithe distributor risin from the floor of the distributor at spacedintervals therealong.

6. A distributor of the character described comprising,- a troughadapted to extend longitudinally of a mold, a series'of baflies disposedtransversely of the' length thereof,

and pouring spouts alon one lon 'tudinal edge of said trough, sai troughaving a substantially imperforate bottom.

7. A distributor of the character described comprising, asemi-cylindrical trough adaptsignatures.

comprising, a trough adapted to extend longitudinallyof a mold, saidtrough being adapted to retain for a desired period molten metalreceived therein, means for retarding spread of molten metal from oneportion of the trough to another until a predetermined quantity of metalhas been received and retained in the first said portion, and

pouring spouts along one longitudinal edge and retained in the firstsaid portion, and

pouring spouts along one longitudinal edge of said trou h.

9. A distributor of the character described ed to extend longitudinallyof a mo (1, transverse barriers a ainst metal flow from one' portion toanot er of the distributor rising from the floor of thedistributor atspaced intervals therealong, said barriers being constructed, andarranged to make the metal flow 'from one portion to another insuccession only, and pouring spouts. along one longitudinal edge of saidtrough.

10. A, distributor of the character described comprising, a longitudinaltrough adapted to receive molten metal at one end, and means forinterrupting the free flow of metal from the receiving end toward theopposite end of the trough and for causin the metal to accumulate to apredetermined depth in one portion of the trough before any metal isreceived in an adjacent but more remote portion. 7

11. A method of filling trough for casting in a centrifugal casting moldcomprising pouring molten metal into the trough and restrictin \the'free spread of the molten metal from p ace to place along the length of\the trough until a substantial quantity of molten metal has accumulatedat one lace.

In witness of the foregoing we aflix our MICHAEL C. SMOTZER; JOHN BYERS.

a distributing

